Beneath a Glass Bridge

I absolutely adored this book. The characters were so real that it sucked you in and made you feel a part of the story. You didn't want it to end!

I am never cold when I’m next to mama’s heart

This was a great story. It was very hard to read, but I so much enjoyed reading it. War changes people, it hurts them, it causes them to lose loved ones and sometimes to lose reality.

This is a search for meaning, for love and for understanding from a young girl damaged by the war at a very young age. Although she had a very understanding and loving aunt, uncle and cousins she often felt alone.  Her life with her mentally ill mom caused by the war was very hard on her. Although she had some loving moments with her mother she never really bonded with her mother because of her mother's mental state.

The story was very hard to read because it had so many characters and the author tried to follow all their stories which often caused three time lines going on at the same time. The book went from the start of WWII through Vietnam, the Gulf War and Desert Storm.  It kept going back and forth between characters and time periods and different countries to the point I was quite confused about where I was in the book.

My favorite part was the last third of the book where she was writing letters she never sent and telling her life story in the book she was writing. I think I would have loved reading the whole story written in this format.

I would recommend the book to those that would love history and historical events that took place during this time period. 

Thanks to Tali Asnin-Barel, Books go social and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of the book for an honest review.

Beneath a Glass Bridge by Tali Asnin-Barel gives a magnificent and emotional account of the 1941 social-political environment. I especially appreciate the approach used by the author to inform the reader of the emotions of uncertainty, fear and sadness experienced by inhabitants of Austria and the rest of the world. The author attempts to incorporate world history in the narrative and align past political and war events with people's everyday realities. Besides the historical background, I particularly appreciate the real-life human-like encounters explained in the book. 

It allows the reader to grasp a real understanding of how people's lives changed because of war and political agendas implemented during the time. The shock and pain carried by many generations portray the life difficulties of the 20th century. I recommend this story to any person who enjoys world history but wants to learn more about direct influences on people's everyday existence during 1941. The book also maintains an interesting writing style with the use of symbolism, memories, stories and letters to make it authentic. I give this book a five-star rating because of the exceptional, emotional and interesting story it presents.

Good Novel About the Holocaust/WWII, Mental Illness & Adoption......................

I got this book, "Beneath a Glass Bridge" after I came across it while browsing the Netgalley website for Kindle books available for free in exchange for a truthful review. Although it was the cover design that first caught my attention, because the title didn’t really give any clues to what this novel was about, I clicked on the link to the listing to find out more about it. 

Once I read the blurbs & reviews on Netgalley, and then on Amazon, I just knew I had to get this book. Because "Beneath a Glass Bridge" is a historical fiction novel set (at least partially!) in Nazi-occupied WWII Austria and not only am I very interested in history, but also, as horrible as it sounds to say, I’m a HUGE World War II (or more specifically, HOLOCAUST) buff, and I LOVE historical fiction novels, particularly those that take place during the Holocaust/World War II. Ever since the age of 9 or so, when I saw the concentration camp scenes in "War and Remembrance" (the TV miniseries based on Herman Wouk's novel, "War and Remembrance") and read/skimmed Viktor Frankl's book, "Man's Search for Meaning" I’ve had a DEEP interest in the Holocaust (some relatives have even called it an obsession!). 

Also, the plot/storyline involves the mental illness(es) of one of its main characters — and mental illness is another subject I’m pretty interested in, largely due to the fact that, I too have struggle(d) with clinical depression, anxiety and other issues.

"Beneath a Glass Bridge" is a multi-decade (and in some ways, multi-generational) family saga that spans from 1941 and World War II, to the beginning of & battles for Israel’s independence and statehood, and concluding in the 1990s with the Gulf War/Desert Storm as seen through the eyes of Helena, a Jewish-American writer living in the United States and Israel who chronicles the lives of her mother, Naomi, and her well-to-do & prominent Jewish family in Vienna. She talks about her mother's youth & young adulthood in pre and post Anschlüss Austria, her own (Helena's) birth in 1941 as the illegitimate daughter of her mother's married employer who abandons them when/after she is born, her early years spent hiding in a brothel under Aryan identities to escape the Holocaust, and what happened to the rest of her mother's family during the war. Helena details her post-war childhood, adolescence and young adulthood in London and Israel, and recounts the struggles she has with her mother Naomi, who struggles with mental illness, the lingering effects of her wartime experiences and her losses during the Holocaust, as she (Helena) eventually divulges the bombshell secret that she had been keeping from her eldest daughter, Blair — a secret which contributed to Helena leaving her family for several months of every year and hiding out at some kind of ranch/resort in California. 

All in all, I liked this book and I would likely recommend it to those that would love history and historical events that took place during this time period of the Holocaust and the post-World War II society. One of the only reasons I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because some or many (maybe even ALL!) of the chapters start in the format of a letter that Helena addresses to someone called Nurit — but to the best of my recollections, the book NEVER explains who Nurit is. I also don't get why Helena considered the secret that she was keeping about Blair being grounds to warrant abandoning her family for MONTHS at a time every year, especially with her younger kids (and in particular her younger daughter) being so young, and to be honest, I kind of hated Helena for that. I mean granted, she didn't have much of a role model for motherhood in Naomi, given her issues, but Ruth seemed to me pretty decent (if not even better!) and in my opinion, whatever Helena's feelings about the secret involving Blair does NOT explain or excuse her abandoning her husband and younger children!

Other than that, "Beneath a Glass Bridge" was a great novel and I would like to thank Tali Asnin-Barel, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free copy for an honest, unbiased review. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 STARS!!!!!!!!!!!

This was an interesting read because it was told by a Jewish person in WW2 that escaped to London and wasn't in a concentration camp. The characters were likeable and relateable and I enjoyed this book!

A magnificent debut novel. Beautifully written. A look at the impact of the Holacust and WWII of the ones left behind to struggle, not only with what they went through but also the lasting effect it had.

Helena is a writer that is trying to cope with her past secrets. She has never told her husband, or children about her whole life. When her oldest turns 18, she gives Blair a box, that tells the truth of Blair's real parents.
Blair leaves and this causes Helena to finally come to terms with her past. As a writer, the only way for her to do this, is to write a book, detailing her secrets and the story of her family forever changed by WWII and the Holacust.

War will always happen. It will also, always change the lives of those affected by it. Rather it is the soldiers fighting, the citizens in the country it is happening in, or those left at home wondering about their loved ones.

I recommend this book. It's like no other WWII/Holacust novel I have read. It looks at the war from a family that was affected by it. By those left behind and the obstacles they had to overcome.

Thanks to Book Social, Tali Asnin-Barel, and Netgalley for the book to read for my honest opinion.

This is a L-O-N-G book about a woman who leaves her family to go to Yosemite Park in California for  periods of time to write her family history.  It is difficult for her;  she has tried before.  This time, however, she is determined to tell the story of her ancestors  beginning with Josef and Rebecca, her great-great grandparents.  It is not a particularly pleasant story;  not entertaining.  They are Austrian Jews, since the thirteenth century, and this part of their story spans the war years, the Nazis, the resistance, the wish for Palestine to be a homeland. 

 In the "Nazi order, there is only room for Aryan people, elevated to the level of "'culture makers' and the Slavic people of Eastern Europe, servants, who were downgraded to the role of 'culture carriers' and the 'culture destroyers', the lowliest of races -- the Jews and the gypsies--  had no room in the new order at all."

As the noose begins to tighten, Helena's Opa is in denial, like too many of his peers.  "Nothing bad will happen.  We are respected members of the community, and my position at work is secure."  In 1938, Germany annexed Austria, and members of the family begin to scatter.  To Palestine.  To London.  

Mike is the husband of Helena, the narrator.  Mike is a civil engineer.  A builder pf bridges.  A fixer of structures.   "all kinds captured his imagination --  wooden and steel beam bridges, arch bridges, hanging bridges, truss bridges with their diagonal, horizontal and vertical poles, and cantilever bridges -- enormous structures born out of magical engineering tricks."

"I am a man, not a bridge," Mike said.  "That's why I'm here.  I'm writing a bridge to you, to our children, to myself.  A bridge to the past." Helena replied.

A thought-provoking book.  I drew a family tree to help me keep all the people's relationships straight.  
The characters are so well drawn, by the end of the novel, I felt that I knew them.  


Net Galley and Books Go Social    pub date 02/13/2020

Thankyou to NetGalley,  BooksGoSocial and the author,  Tali Asnin-Barel, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Beneath A Glass Bridge in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion. 
Such a beautiful and thought provoking story.  I was drawn in by the characters. 
The storyline was well thought out and written with well developed characters.  You are made to feel a part of their lives as history unfolds.  
Well worth a read.

In Beneath a Glass Bridge, author Tali Asnin-Barel, tells the personal story of Helena Steiner. Helena was born to Naomi Steiner in Vorarlberg, Vienna, just as Hitler annexed Austria. The book is divided into four sweeping sections:Vienna, London, Tel-Aviv, and California. In each section Helena includes: letters to her husband Mike and daughter, Blair, where she explains what she had to run away from them to the Yosemite Park. 

It is impossible not to be trapped in Helena's and the Steiner's family story, each section, detailing significant events in history. 

I requested this book from #netgalley, and after receiving it, I did not pick it up. I was then contacted to please provide my review.This gave me the push that I needed o open Tali"s book. I am so happy that I did .It truly is an incredible story, beautifully written and unputdownable. 5 stars for this book! Thank you #netgalley for the digital e-ARC.

NB: Tali Asnin-Barel, was born in Israel, and now lives in Atlanta, Georgia. She is an attorney, and active community leader. This is her debut novel. Congratulations Tali! #beneathaglassbridge is an incredible book!

"I was born in darkness, on a grey winter's day, into a grimreality." Thus the story begins, Western Austria, the year 1941.  This beautiful book tells the story of Helena, a successful Jewish-American writer, who leaves everything behind and travels far away in order to deal with her feelings, her past, her relationships with her family and beloved ones. Her journey starts in Austria before WW2 and goes all the way to the new born country of israel.
While away, Helena writes letters (never sent) to her closest family and builds more and more bridges - some are long-lasting, some crack and can be fixed but others are just too fragile and fall apart, forever.  This novel is charged with emotion, a story that is powerful and will hold you in its grip.  I have read many WWII stories, but this one will resonate within me for a very long time.  It is unbelievable that this is a debut novel, the author's talent exudes with each page!  My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! What a read! First and foremost...let it be known that this book spans the late 1930’s to 1991. It’s broken into three sections, each representing a different stage of life for the lead character, Helena. She’s a different person, emotionally. She grows exponentially throughout the book but holds on to secrets from her family and the only way to get them to understand is to write the story.

Helena is born to a young Jewish woman, hiding in Austria during WWII. Her father was the great love of her mothers life and his disappearance was something she never recovered from. She was a distant mother, something that Helena struggles with right up until her mothers death. 

She’s goes through life divulging very little to those that are close to her. She carries these secrets up until things turn upside down and she chooses to write a book to tell her story in hopes that her family will understand why she is the way she and why she made the choices she did. In the process, she hopes to repair the damaged bridges in her life.

I can only imagine what a child, especially a Jewish child in hiding, went through during WWII. The struggle to receive love from a mother so distraught over her lover and her family. Surviving only to move to another country with the only family members to survive the war. Growing up with cousins who’ve had a better start to life. Dealing with a mother permanently mentally damaged from the throws of war. To moving to another new country where times are proving to be tougher than what was once promised. To navigating love and desire. It’s a lot of weight that Helena carries on her shoulders. 

This story paints a much deeper picture of war from a perspective I’ve read little about. You read survivor stories but I think Helenas point of view is one often forgotten. She was born into a situation completely out of her control. She hears about family members she never knew from a depressed mother all the time.The struggles that she goes through are just as tough as those who experienced first hand. But, like so many, she gets to the point in life that her story has to be told before it’s too late.

This story is gripping. It’s emotional. The characters are well developed. The amount of history included in the story is extremely educational. I do wish there was an authors notes including in the copy of the book. It’s an unedited ARC so hopefully they will be included in the published version. The authors notes tell a story as well and provide more depth to the plot.

Definitely recommend!!
Thank you NetGalley & Tali Barel for the chance to read this a little early! I was deeply moved!

Thank you to NetGalley,  BooksGoSocial and the author,  Tali Asnin-Barel, for this advanced reader's copy in return for my honest review. I love historical fiction and this beautiful novel did not let me down. The story is well crafted and thought provoking.

Helena's story was interesting.
Holocaust story.
The only thing is I read a lot of other books about WW2 and this one was good, but not the best.
The plot flow was a bit slow here.

Beneath a Glass Bridge
By, Tali-Asnin Barel
     Much thanks to Net Galley, Books Go Social, and the author, Tali-Asnin Barel, for the digital copy of “Beneath a Glass Bridge” in return for an honest review.  
     I loved this book!!!   This story travels through pre World War II Austria, London, and Israel as a new country.  
     The story features a beautiful Jewish family who deeply love and support each other.  As war progresses, anti-Semitism becomes widespread throughout Europe.  The Steiner family is made aware that no Jew is safe.  They are forced to understand that it is beyond their power to always keep each other safe.  Despite all the love this family shares, they become separated by distance and death.  
     Years later, those who survive reunite in London.  Most have high hopes for their futures.  Others are haunted by nightmares of the past.  
The family is then drawn to Israel.  Once secured in Israel,  they discover that life presents it’s own joys and sorrows, even in this most holy land of their ancestors.  
     This story follows Ruth, Naomi and Helena throughout their lives.  It’s a story about love,, commitment, survival, and kindness.  
     I loved the characters in this book.  This is a story that I did not want to put down and I hoped it would never end.  
Five stars, hands down.

An emotional story that reads like a memoir about Helena and her family, jews living in Austria during WWII. Her experiences during her childhood made a lasting impact throughout her life. She was unable to talk about her past with her husband and family until she leaves them to go to Yosemite and write. As an author her stories never came too close to her own personal story, but now she was finally ready to share it.
I had to stop and put this book aside several times because it's a very sad story. But I'm so glad I got a chance to read it. It really shows the emotions of the jews at the time and the influence it had on their lives after. I really thought this was based on a true story!
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I really felt for  Naomi and Helena, the story was heartbreaking and it was a really good read, the characters were great.

Another excellent World War II novel with a different plot than what I am used to. The author did an amazing job!